Basic Horse Nutrition 101

Dr. Brett D. ScottTexas Agri LIFE Extension

Challenges of Horse Nutrition

• Digestive physiology• Feeding of components• Size and breed differences

Digestive System

• Non-ruminant herbivore

• Foregut Enzymatic

digestion• Hindgut Fermentative

digestion

Digestive System

• Stomach Small! One-way passage

• Small intestine Majority of nutrient digestion

and absorption Soluble carbohydrates, protein, fat

• Large intestine Digest structural carbohydrates via bacterial

fermentation VFA produced

B vitamins and vitamin K produced

Feeding This System

• Digestive system suited for small quality forage-type meals

• System works well with continuous feeding Large CHO meals may lead to colic, founder

• Forage should be main diet component• Concentrate feed

considered supplemental

A Horse’s Diet

• Dietary components Forage Pasture, hay

Concentrates Energy Protein Additives

Water Supplements??

Forages

• Foundation of a successful feeding program Daily nutrient needsMaintains digestive tractMinimizes vices

• Selection is critical Visual appraisal vs. chemical analysis

• Include in diet at minimum of 1% BW daily!

Concentrates - Energy

• Consider supplemental to quality forage Increases energy input

• Grains used to provide energyOats, Corn, Barley, Sorghum

• Fat also added for energy• Grains often processed to increase

digestion in small intestine

Relationship of Crude Fiber to Expected DE in Conventional and Fat Supplemented Concentrates

CF% on Feed Tag

Approximate DE (Mcal/lb)

DE (Mcal/lb) With 4-5% Added Fat (Tag Reads 7-8% fat)

2 1.62 1.724 1.55 1.656 1.45 1.558 1.35 1.4510 1.25 1.3512 1.15 1.25

Concentrates - Protein

• Protein quality is key, especially for growth Soybean meal best source of amino acidsOther sources can be used, but not alone

• Lysine is first limiting amino acid• Urea can be tolerated

What CP% do I purchase?

Classification CP%

Mature, Idle 8-10

Performance 10-14

Lactation 14-16

Foals, Weanlings 16

Yearlings 14

2-yr olds 12-14

Minerals

• Calcium and phosphorus required 2:1 ratioMost grains have inverted ratios

• Most other minerals adequate Cu, Zn, Mn important during growth Electrolytes (Na, Cl, K) for performance

horses

Vitamins

• Fat Soluble Vitamin A – usually

added Vitamin D – added at

10% of A Vitamin K – hindgut

fermentation

• Water Soluble B complex vitamins –

hindgut fermentation Vitamin C – from

glucose

Mare and Foal Nutrition

Broodmare

• Ideal body condition score of 6• Types of broodmaresOpen Pregnant Lactating

Broodmare - Gestation

• Feed to meet maintenance requirements in first two trimesters

• Gradually increase concentrate portion of ration when approaching third trimester

Growth of Equine Fetus

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Gestation (months)

Feta

l Wei

ght

(lb)

First Trimester Second Trimester Third Trimester

Broodmare - Lactation

• Early lactation requires increase in energy, protein, and calcium

• At foaling, increase concentrate portion of ration slowly

Milk Production in Mares

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

0 1 2 3 4 5

Time After Foaling (months)

Aver

age

Milk

Pro

duct

ion

(lb)

Foals and Weanlings

• Creep feed recommended Late lactation does not support all nutrient needs Nutrient requirements of foal differ from mare

• Creep rations Assume low forage intake Palatable High quality

• Weanlings have low forage consumption

Growth Curve for Young Horses

385

485

585

685

785

885

985

1085

1185

0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 34

Rapid

Moderate

Age (months)

Body

Wei

ght

(lb)

Working Horses

Working Horses

• Amount of energy needed is proportional to work LightModerate Intense

Light Work

• Pleasure riding or training of show horses in non-demanding events

• Requires 25% increase in energy Maintain CP to DE

ratio

15

20

25

30

35

40

Main Light

Workload

DE

(Mca

l/d)

Moderate Work

• Work frequently performed by performance horses

• Requires 50% increase in energy Maintain CP

to DE ratio 15

20

25

30

35

40

Main Light Moderate

Workload

DE

(Mca

l/d)

Intense Work

• Frequently performed by racehorses and polo horses

• Requires 100% increase in energy Maintain CP to DE

ratio

15

20

25

30

35

40

Main Light Moderate Intense

Workload

DE

(Mca

l/d)

Feeding Management

General Feeding Tips

• Most horses consume 2-2.5% BW dailyMinimum 1% forage

• Fresh water always available• Access to trace mineralized salt block• Feed by weight not volume• Avoid “cutting” balanced rations• Store grain out of reach

Individual Feeding

• Avoid feeding on the ground Losses Contact with parasites, etc. Ingestion of soil

• Keep troughs clean and free of mold

• Attempt to slow aggressive eaters

Group Feeding

• Adequate space if single trough

• Better to provide individual feeders 50 ft apart Feed dominant horses first

Feeding Time and Frequency

• Feed regularly at same time each day• Offer feed in multiple meals when grain

intake exceeds 0.5% BW Even time intervals

• Limit grain intake to 0.5 lb feed/100 lb BW per feeding

Changing Rations

• Change type of feed or amount offered graduallyOver 1 week Avoids digestive upsets

• 3 weeks to adapt to any dietary changes Supplements

The purpose of having a foal…